WOODCHIPS
  • Home
  • About Us
  • The area we cover
  • Featured creatures
  • Our Butterflies
    • Butterfly Blog
  • Bird Count
  • Toolkit
  • Photo Calendar
  • Countryside Videos
  • CONTACT/MORE INFO
  • Grassland Survey
  • SAFE WORKING

Butterfly Blog

Ideal weather

11/8/2023

0 Comments

 
Our regular butterfly counting team of GH, GK and BG were once again joined by Liz North for Transect no. 19 on Wenesday morning. Conditions were ideal for seeing butterflies: sunny, warm with just a slight breeze, and we were not disappointed. We recorded a total of 488 butterflies, the third highest week's count of what is proving to be the best season for several years, and there are still seven weeks before the end of the 2023 counting season – let's hope the weather holds up,
 
With 278 counted, the Meadow Browns once again provided the highest numbers, as they always do over the high summer days. Gatekeeper numbers dipped slightly to 50 while the second broods of Common Blue and Brown Argus rocketed from single figure over previous weeks to 43 (CBs) and 46(BAs) – both of these figures are the best for several years for these two species. Three weeks later than usual, we saw our first Chalkhill Blues (6) at the Horseshoe Vetch patch on Gt Parsons Field (Section 11) .  Once again, Purple Hairstreaks (4) were flying high in the oak and ash trees that front on to Hill Wood Field (section 7).
 We saw butterflies on most of the transect's twelve sections but it is interesting to note that the two sections of Fames Rough (sections 3 and 4) were where we saw the greatest numbers. Is this the result of the on-going removal of scrub?
Count details:
278 Meadow Brown
  50 Gatekeeper
  46 Brown Argus
  43 Common Blue
  19 Brimstone
    9 Peacock
    7 Small White
    6 Small Heath
    6 Chalkhill Blue
    4 Small Copper
    4 Purple Hairstreak
    3 Marbled White
    3 Holly Blue 
    3 Large White
    3 Silver-washed Fritillary 
    2 Comma
    2 Speckled Wood
 Summary:
488 butterflies from 17 species.
Click on butterfly names for more info.


​Survey by Graham H, Graham K, Brian Gardner and Liz North 
submitted to Butterfly Conservation (UKBMS).  ​
​Report by Brian Gardner. ​Pics by Graham K and Liz North.
 ​​
Click pics to enlarge.
Small White, Fames Rough -GK
Silver-washed Fritillary underside, Fames Rough - GK
Silver-washed Fritillary upperside, Fames Rough -GK
Brown Argus feeling fruity -GK
Burnet Moth, Hither Field - Liz North
Brown Argus mating - Liz North
Small Copper, Fames Rough - Liz North
Brimstone, Fames Rough - Liz North
Picture
Chalkhill Blue, Stagbury - Liz North
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    The Transect Team

    Here you'll find details and pictures from the team carrying out our regular  butterfly surveys (known as transects) over 26 weeks during Spring and Summer.

    Archives

    June 2025
    May 2025
    April 2025
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Picture

​
​


Send us an email*

[email protected]m

*Supply your email address and it will be used solely to keep you informed about WoodChip activities. You may unsubscribe at any time.
​The content on this website is subject to copyright of the WoodChips and their volunteers. Please get in touch if you wish to use any of the text or other media.
  • Home
  • About Us
  • The area we cover
  • Featured creatures
  • Our Butterflies
    • Butterfly Blog
  • Bird Count
  • Toolkit
  • Photo Calendar
  • Countryside Videos
  • CONTACT/MORE INFO
  • Grassland Survey
  • SAFE WORKING